PHOTO: Crews with the Rockford Fire Department rescued several drivers who were stranded in flooded and stalled cars Saturday night, as about 6 inches of rain brought flash flooding to various parts of the city. Firefighters responded to 120 calls for service between 11 p.m., July 13 and 6 a.m. Sunday, July 14, the city said in a release. Crews also dealt with a structural collapse brought on by rising floodwaters, extinguished a garage fire and conduced several welfare checks. The department said a large part of the flooding occurred in the Keith Creek corridor, but localized flooding was reported across all areas within the city's boundaries. "Waters in certain areas remain high, and we strongly urge citizens to stay out of all flooded areas and never drive vehicles through flooded roadways," the release said.  

PHOTO: A building collapsed in downtown Joliet amid a severe storm that also caused downed tree limbs, flash flooding and fallen power lines, Joliet firefighters reported. Joliet Firefighters Local 44 said Cass and Chicago streets were closed Sunday morning due to a building collapse, and residents should avoid the area. The city's building department was expected to arrive at the scene at the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum. Extensive tree damage could also be seen near Juliet's Tavern in downtown Joliet. Sunshine Mexican Cafe on Scott Street announced its brunch buffet would be closed Sunday due to "extreme damage" to the building from the storm. "A dangerous storm has just passed through Joliet," the union said in a Facebook post.  

PHOTOS: A firefighter was injured while putting out a massive pallet yard fire in San Bernardino County, authorities said. According to the San Bernardino County Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched to the 15000 block of Whittram Avenue in Fontana around 8:15 p.m. Saturday. When they got to the scene, crews observed a "stacked pallet yard well-involved with fire," officials said. The blaze was ultimately escalated to a four-alarm fire, eliciting a response from surrounding agencies. "Upon arrival of additional resources, it was found that about a quarter-acre of stacked pallets, vehicles, trucks and trailers were burning," the San Bernardino County Fire Department said in a statement. "Additionally, three power poles were involved in the fire, which required Edison to handle the hazard as suppression efforts were being initiated."  

The head of the New York City Fire Department has notified Mayor Eric Adams that she intends to step down from her post in order to explore other career opportunities, officials familiar with the commissioner's plans told News 4. "My dedication to the FDNY has never and will never waver. It has been the honor of a lifetime to devote the last 10 years — five as first deputy commissioner and more than two as commissioner — to advocating for the men and women of the FDNY," Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said in a statement. Kavanagh has served as the commissioner for the city's fire department for nearly two years, after serving as the acting commissioner following the retirement of Daniel Nigro in Feb. 2022. She has been the first female commissioner in the department's 159-year history.  

PHOTOS: Authorities say seven firefighters were injured when two tanker trucks crashed while responding to a large blaze in York, Pennsylvania. Officials said the crash occurred shortly before 11 p.m. Friday in Spring Garden Township, about a third of a mile from the large warehouse fire in the city. The York New Salem Volunteer Fire Company said in a post on its Facebook page that five members sustained injuries ranging from "some minor bumps and bruises to some being a little more serious" — but none of the injuries were life-threatening. Chief David Rittenhouse of the Laurel Fire Company No. 1 of Windsor said both firefighters staffing its tanker were taken to WellSpan York Hospital for evaluation, but had been discharged by 1 a.m. Saturday.